Conditions were cool and windy with scattered, puffy clouds for the 3 segment qualifying session. Harvick was fastest in segment number one of knockout qualifying, with a record 203.995 MPH. Harvick was top quick in round two as well, at 202.988.

Then in the final segment of knockout qualifying, the no. 4 shattered the all-time NASCAR track record, and no one could keep up. It was the first time that NASCAR has used the knockout qualifying format at Michigan Speedway.